The open-source Cline alternative that's gaining ground

Roo Code (formerly Roo-Cline) is an open-source VSCode extension that gives AI models full autonomy: it can edit files, run terminal commands, browse the web, and execute code — all while asking for your approval before making changes. Think of it as a more transparent, customizable alternative to Cursor's agent mode.

Who it's for: Developers who want autonomous AI coding but prefer VSCode over Cursor. Tinkerers who want to customize the agent's behavior. Anyone who wants to use their own API keys instead of paying for a subscription.

Key features

🤖 Autonomous coding agent

Roo plans, writes, tests, and debugs code autonomously. It reads error messages, browses docs, and iterates until the task is done. Approve or reject each action.

🔌 Bring your own key

Use any LLM — Claude, GPT-4, Gemini, DeepSeek, local models via Ollama. No subscription needed, just your own API keys. Full cost transparency.

🌐 Browser control

Roo can open a browser, navigate to URLs, click elements, and read page content. Use it to test web apps, scrape docs, or debug frontend issues.

🎭 Custom modes

Define custom agent modes — code reviewer, test writer, documentation writer — with different system prompts and tool access. Highly extensible.

The honest take

✓ What works

Fully open-source — no vendor lock-in
Works with any LLM provider (Claude, GPT, Gemini, local)
Transparent action-by-action approval workflow
Browser and terminal access for full-stack tasks
Custom modes make it extremely flexible

✗ What doesn't

Token costs can add up fast with autonomous coding
Needs API key setup — less turnkey than Cursor
Occasionally loops or gets stuck on complex tasks
VSCode extension only — no JetBrains support
Community is smaller than Cline's

Verdict

Roo Code is the best way to get autonomous AI coding in VSCode without paying for Cursor. It's free, open-source, and works with any model. If you're comfortable managing your own API keys and want full control over your AI coding agent, Roo is the one to beat.

💡 Transparency: This review contains affiliate links. If you sign up through our link, we may earn a commission at no cost to you. We only recommend tools we use ourselves. Full disclosure.